Asclepias plant named &#39;Charlotte&#39;s Blush&#39;

ABSTRACT

A distinct cultivar of  Asclepias  plant named ‘Charlotte&#39;s Blush’, characterized by its white, cream, pink, and green variegated leaves and seed pods; blooms are brightly colored; it grows well in full sun to light shade.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Asclepias plant, botanically known as Asclepias curassavica, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Charlotte's Blush’.

The new Asclepias was discovered as a sport of an Asclepias curassavica in the Inventor's butterfly farm garden in Brooker, Fla. in the spring of 2012.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was first accomplished by cuttings taken at Shady Oak Butterfly Farm, Inc, in Brooker, Fla. in the spring of 2012. Several hundred plants of the new cultivar were grown from cuttings for over a year and several generations. This continued propagation has shown that the unique characteristics of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type via cuttings in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the cultivar ‘Charlotte's Blush’ have been grown under low light and high light conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as light intensity and temperature. Under some light and temperatures, the intensity of the pink color will vary. It has been grown in pots and in soil.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Charlottes Blush’. These characteristics in combination distinguish “Charlotte's Blush” as a new and distinct cultivar of Asclepias.

1. ‘Charlotte's Blush’ exhibits variegated leaves with centers in shades of green that may vary from light to dark and with creamy margins and central vein in shades of cream, beige, and/or yellow, with tinges of pink and/or fuchsia.

2. ‘Charlotte's Blush’ exhibits variegated seed pods that include two or more of the following colors: pink; green shades, light to dark; cream/beige, and yellow.

‘Charlotte's Blush was observed to be unique from the Asclepias plant from which it was derived, and from all other known Asclepias cultivars, in having distinct leaf variegation and seed pod variegation including, in addition to shades of green, shades of cream, beige and/or yellow and shades of pink and/or fuchsia.

In addition, ‘Charlotte's Blush’ grows well in full sun to light shade, blooms with bright orange and yellow flowers, and has uniform flowering within the florescence. Plants of the cultivar ‘Charlotte's Blush’ also grow well in pots as well as in the ground and exhibit good post-production longevity.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance and distinct characteristics of the new cultivar showing the colors as true as possible. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describes the colors of the new Asclepias. The photographs were taken of plants grown outdoors in Brooker, Fla.

The photograph in FIG. 1 is a side view of ‘Charlotte's Blush’ growing in the ground in full sun. The photograph shows the variegated leaves of ‘Charlotte's Blush’ with tinges of pink.

FIG. 2 is a photograph of a close-up view of a seed pod of ‘Charlotte's Blush’ growing in the ground in full sun. The cream and green variegation is visible in this photograph.

The photograph in FIG. 3 shows ‘Charlotte's Blush’ growing in a pot in partial shade. Pink and fuchsia are more visible among the white, cream, and green leaves in this photograph.

FIG. 4 is a close-up photograph of blooms of ‘Charlotte's Blush’ growing in the ground in full sun.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following observations, measurements, and values describe plants of the new cultivar grown as cuttings at Shady Oak Butterfly Farm, Brooker, Fla. The plants were grown under average day temperatures of 15° to 48° C. and average night temperatures of 1.6° to 26° C. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environmental, climatic and cultural conditions.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significant are used.

-   Botanical classification: Asclepias curassavica ‘Charlotte's Blush’ -   Parentage: Sport from Asclepias curassavica -   Growth and propagation:     -   -   Growth rate.—Vigorous; roots well with or without rooting             hormone.         -   Propagation type.—Cuttings.         -   Root description.—Fibrous. -   Plant description:     -   -   Form.—Upright flowering perennial/annual.         -   Hardiness.—Zone 8b and warmer as perennial; annual in cooler             zones.         -   Usage.—Garden, Monarch butterfly and Queen butterfly host             plant, container gardens.         -   Vigor.—Moderate.         -   Flowering period.—Six weeks from liner to bloom; blooms till             first frost.         -   Height and spread.—Grows to 36″ tall and 24″ wide.         -   Stems size.—Grows to ½″ diameter and 24″ long.         -   Stem shape.—Round.         -   Stem color.—Blend of 164C and 137C.         -   Stem surface.—Smooth.         -   Stem strength.—Strong.         -   Internode length.—Depends upon light conditions, but average             of 2 to 3″.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branched; additional branches             readily grow, especially when pruned. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Leaf shape.—Linear.         -   Leaf division.—Single.         -   Leaf base.—Rounded.         -   Leaf venation.—Parallel.         -   Leaf margins.—Entire, slightly sinuate.         -   Leaf arrangement.—Opposite.         -   Leaf color.—Variegated with centers a random mixture of 137A             and 194A, both upper and lower surfaces of the leaf; margins             mixture of 8C and 15D with 160B, moving from one color to             another randomly; young leaf color generally the same as             older leaves; margins tinged with 70C, with possible tinges             of 77B (depending upon temperature/light).         -   Leaf number.—Average of 20 to 30 per lateral branch.         -   Leaf size.—2″ to 4″ in length.         -   Leaf aspect.—Angle about 25-35 degrees upward from stem. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and habit.—Multiple florets on raceme.         -   Inflorescence type.—10-20 florets on a raceme.         -   Inflorescence size.—1-2 inches.         -   Inflorescence lastingness.—About 14 days.         -   Flower shape and color.—Red and dark pink red corollas             (color 47A and 53C respectively) and yellow/orange corona             lobes (color 23A).         -   Flower fragrance.—None.         -   Flower arrangement/appearance.—Cymes with 10-20 flowers             each.         -   Petals.—Obovate 6 mm; colors: 47A on upper side of petal and             53C on underside of petal.         -   Sepals.—Color 2D edged with 166A.         -   Calyx.—Color 2D edged with 166A.         -   Corona.—Color 23A.         -   Corolla.—Color 53C top of corolla and 47A underside of             corolla.         -   Peduncle.—145B.         -   Pedicel.—145B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Flowers include five stamens with two             anthers each. The stamens are fixed to the base of the             corolla and contact each other to make a stamen ring.             Anthers are about 1.5 mm, winged and oblong. Stamens are             about 2 mm. Pollinum (pollen mass) are attached by joined             thread-like arms at the corpusculum. The corona has a hood             and horn.         -   Seed.—Encased in 2-4 inch follicles. Follicles are             variegated with a mixture of 136A, 146C, 8C, 4D, and 71A.             Seed are ovate, about 0.25 inch long, and vary in color from             166A to 165A. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Asclepias plant named ‘Charlotte's Blush’ as herein illustrated and described. 